This easy and hearty recipe for cheesy cauliflower casserole will have everyone asking for a second serving of vegetables!
I’m guessing it’s not often that the folks around your supper table ask for seconds of vegetables (unless mashed potatoes are involved, and then all bets are off) but that is all about to change with this recipe for easy, hearty, cheesy cauliflower casserole. Full of tender cauliflower and baked in a creamy, dreamy cheese sauce, it gives a macaroni and cheese vibe but with vegetable goodness.
And while it is the perfect side for grilled chicken or steak, in my house it as has also been eaten all by its gorgeous self, because I’m here to tell you that this is one of the times that the vegetable is going to take center stage. Let’s make it!
This easy recipe for cheesy cauliflower casserole will have everyone asking for vegetable seconds!Click To TweetFirst you need a nice big head of cauliflower.
Cauliflower is a weird and wonderful vegetable, don’t you think? It looks like a bouquet of flowers from another planet. A super delicious bouquet of flowers.
You want to cut that cauliflower up into nice bite-sized florets (and for a great piece on how to cut up a cauliflower, click here) and steam those florets until they are nice and tender. In the meantime, stir up a quick and easy cheese sauce that you are going to pour over the steamed cauliflower and bake until it is a wonderment of cheesy deliciousness.
Cool it off for a little bit (I know! So hard!) and then you are ready to serve up what is about to be your new favorite vegetable recipe. You’re running out to get a cauliflower right now, aren’t you? Me too!
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Freshly ground pepper
- Steam cauliflower florets until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 and butter a casserole.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Whisk in flour until well mixed.
- Whisk in milk and simmer until slightly thickened. Take off the heat and stir in cheese until smooth.
- Spread cauliflower in the casserole and pour the cheese sauce on top. Grind some pepper over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes, cool slightly and serve.
I’m generally a person who can’t have enough cheese. At Olive Garden I’m the one who asks for more cheese on my pasta, and if they didn’t look at me awkwardly I’d probably never say “That’s enough.” So this is a perfect side dish for me. Plus cauliflower is awesome and it seems so underrated. I can’t wait to try this!
Wow! The name of this dish itself is making me drool, Kate. Indeed cauliflower is a delicious bouquet of flowers. Lovely share! 🙂
Cauliflower is one of my favorite veggies, though I often forget to cook with it. Part of the reason is because my husband doesn’t like it, but that just means more for me. This casserole looks SO good, Kate! I wouldn’t mind keeping this all to myself!
I’ve had this! It was a long time ago in the U.K. and they called it “cauliflower cheese.” And it’s the best. It’s healthier than mac and cheese but just as (or more) delicious. I’m such a fan!!
Gimme all the cauliflower Kate! This looks so deliciously cheesy! And so easy! Count me in!
i’ll be the first to admit that cauliflower needs a little bit of help in the flavor department, and this is a fine assist! i would LOVE this!
This looks incredibly tasty, I want to try this recipe out! Thanks for the share.
Forget seconds, Kate! I can tell you already I will want 4ths and 5ths of this casserole! Better yet, I want to make this casserole my dinner. Just me, this cheesy deliciousness and a shovel. 🙂 Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables, so this is totally screaming my name! Perfectly cozy, comforting and ultimately delicious! Love it! Cheers, friend! xo
Uh, yeah, if I had this on my table, I’d be asking for seconds too, Kate! Love how cheesy, warm and golden this looks. 🙂 Thanks for sharing another keeper! Pinning. 🙂
I love this! I have a huge soft spot for cheesy veggies and wound go to town on this casserole. Forget seconds, I’m taking the entire pan!!
I love cauliflower and casseroles (they’re so comforting!) but I’ve never combined the two! Can’t wait to try this 🙂
Would you be able to freeze those recipe before baking? Sounds amazing!
Hey Jen! I’ve never tried freezing it, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work just fine. If you try it will you let us know how it came out?
Can this be done in a crock pot or slow cooker???
I wish I could say yes, but I worry that the cauliflower would get too mushy. I did find this recipe from Betty Crocker that has cauliflower in the slow cooker – it looks like they recommending cooking it first, which mine does too, and then basically heating it in the slow cooker for a few hours. So, maybe? http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-cheesy-cauliflower/f19be60b-9482-400c-8f09-7984200b15b1
I made this last night and it was soooo good! I used 3/4 cup cheddar and 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend. Also added 1/2 tsp minced garlic (the wet kind from the jar), and the peppercorn medley that comes in a grinder.
It was just my husband and myself eating this, and we ate over half of it last night with some pork chops. I had some of the leftover for breakfast, that’s how good it is! Thanks for this delicious recipe!
I love your variations on this one, Sabrina! And yes, we know we have a hit on our hands when we eat it for breakfast. 🙂 🙂
What a delicious yet EASY dish! Yummmmm..
Thanks so much Carlotta! It is just as good (dare I say it?) as mac and cheese!
Can this be but together the day before or made earlier in the day and then baked at dinner time?
Hi Jo Ann! I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see any reason why not. I would let it come to room temp before you bake it. Happy Thanksgiving!
What is this best served with????
Hi Jerrica! It is a great side dish for roasted chicken or steak, but it’s also a great vegetarian main dish (think mac and cheese, only with cauliflower!)
Great recipe, thanks! It’s perfect like it is, but I added a dash of cayenne pepper because that’s how I like macaroni and cheese. Best thing on the table : )
LOVE the cayenne pepper addition – I’m going to try that! 🙂
My husband made this for dinner and it was delicious.
5 stars.
5 stars! I’m so glad! 🙂
This was delicious!! My husband and I nearly ate the whole casserole!😋 Yum…mmy!! Definitely a keeper. Thank you!👍😊
We have been known to devour a whole casserole in my house too! Yay!